Dear members and friends,
It has always been assumed that the different races evolved separately in different parts of the world – but genetic research has now established that modern day populations in Europe, Asia, Australia, the Americas, etc – are all descended from common ancestors. The human race owes its existence to a single east African tribe of around 200 people who managed to cross the Red Sea around 70,000 years ago – and who went on to colonise the entire world. They reckon human evolution took 4 million years. From a few thousand humanoids on the African Savannahs – by 8000 BC there were around 20 million of us worldwide – by the time of Christ about 200 million. We reached a billion by 1865 – 3 billion by 1965 – 6 billion by 2000.
If we could shrink this 6 billion to a village of precisely 100 people – keeping the same human ratios – there would be 60 Asians, 12 Europeans, 13 from the Americas and 14 Africans. 70 of the hundred would be non-white; 80 would live in substandard housing; 70 would be unable to read; 50 would suffer from malnutrition; one would be near death – one near birth; one would be a University graduate. Six people would possess 60% of all wealth – these six (all from USA) would be in control of the village. The village would be run on the basis that the richer those six became – the better it would be for everyone – a kind of collective madness.
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I trained as a community development worker – proud to describe myself as such – but I have no interest in any of the so-called professional bodies which have evolved. I believe community workers should work for communities – accountable to local people; we should be recruited principally from the communities where we work; the development of our role and usefulness should be through dialogue with local people. The community development profession in Scotland has opted to work for the state – sold out; it favours more and more exclusive entry qualifications; what dialogue there is about its professional role is conducted in academic gobbledegook. But recently, dissenting voices have been heard – folk who want to rescue community work from universities. If these voices connect with each other – who knows? Here’s a forthright paper doing the rounds from Bob Hamilton. https://senscot.net/?viewid=8474
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For years this bulletin has campaigned against the Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) – the worst example I can recall of citizens being shafted by arrogant bureaucrats. If we cut through all the crap, GHA was created as a transitional body, to pass the houses to Glasgow’s acclaimed community housing associations. GHA has spent enormous amounts of time and effort to avoid these transfers going ahead. It must now return to the original vision – or be disbanded. Wendy Alexander, in yesterday’s Herald, uses more temperate language than me but says the same things. http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=8473
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Over the years, some Govt. jobs creation schemes have worked – other haven’t – and it’s too early to say with any confidence how the new Future Jobs Fund will develop. But our young people deserve our best shot so we’re discussing the practicalities of making space for a youngster at Manor Place. Maybe you’ve got a spare slot. http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=8476
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Senscot is still active around the UK roll-out of the Social Enterprise Mark (SEM) in November. Aidan was at a sub-group meeting yesterday and reports good progress on some outstanding issues. Our priority is to ensure that, up here, it has a distinctly Scottish dimension. An initial 5 Scottish champions will be presented with the new ‘Identifier’ at a special ceremony at The Engine Shed on Friday, 14 Aug. Handful of places still available. If you’d like to come along, contact anna@senscot.net. Here’s next week’s agenda http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=8490
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NOTICES: We can’t flag all notices here, but submit jobs and events and we’ll post them on our site. See http://www.senscot.net/jobsevents.php. This week:
JOBS: Cupar YMCA-YWCA, Renfrewshire Environmental Trust, Glenboig Neighbourhood House, Sparqs (Student Participation in Quality Scotland), Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland, ASH Scotland, Lodging House Mission, Equal Futures, Crossroads Youth & Community Association
EVENTS: Festival Exhibition, West Kilbride Community Initiative Ltd/ Craft Town Scotland, 15 Aug; Stress Awareness at Work, Fife Employment Access Trust, 21 Aug; CRNS 6th Annual Furniture Reuse Conference, 26 Aug; From Ideas To Action, CWA/DTAS, 28 Aug
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NETWORKS NEWS: Colin writes: The Vital Statistics Surveys are starting to take shape. Tayside SEN is now complete with some impressive figures. See http://www.senscot.net/networks1st/showresource.php?articleid=43. Glasgow, Clacks, Aberdeen and Dumfries & Galloway are all on their way to completion as well. Initial figures are reflecting a greater impact than some might have thought. We hope to complete similar surveys with all Networks over the coming months. If you’d like to get involved, contact anna@senscot.net
See more Networks News, see http://www.senscot.net/networks1st/showart.php?articleid=101
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Good response so far to our ad last week for a Network Co-ordinator. The role involves working directly with the Local Social Enterprise Networks (LSENs) to help them move towards their next stage of development. Closing date is next Friday (14th Aug.). Here’s the ad, but please note contact details. http://www.senscot.net/view_job.php?viewid=8452 Firstport is also recruiting at the moment as well as running another free day’s consultancy with PriceWaterhouse-Cooper. See details http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=8489
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DTA Scotland is inviting bids for the tender to redesign the DTA Scotland website. The budget for the tender is up to £5,000 including VAT. See details http://www.senscot.net/view_job.php?viewid=8486
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The Scottish Policy Innovation Forum hosts regular seminars where papers are presented at the cutting edge of policy development. I’ve enlisted for their special event on Scotland’s Constitutional Future on Sept 4th http://www.senscot.net/view_event.php?viewid=8478
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Gerry Hassan writes about ‘A Scottish Wave of Change’ – a mass imagination project about the future of Scotland. In this first stage they are looking to commission stories. http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=8477
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The Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition (SSEC) is teaming up with its counterparts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as Govt partners to run a new round of Social Enterprise Awards. There will be four regional heats (announced on Social Enterprise Day, 19th Nov.) with the overall winners announced in December. There are three categories – one larger orgs, one for medium sized orgs and one for newcomers – with up to £5k in cash as part of the prize. See more, http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=8465
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This week’s bulletin profiles a social enterprise featured in this month’s HISEZ Newsletter. The Isle of Skye Ferry runs from Glenelg on the mainland to Kylerhea and operates on a seasonal basis from Easter till October. The Ferry has been operating since 1934 but was purchased by the community in 2007. See more, http://www.senscot.net/view_prof.php?viewid=8480
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John McKnight’s 1986 EF Schumacher lecture ‘John Deere and the Bereavement Councillor’ is one of the most circulated of a treasure of fine lectures. It describes the effects of professionalisation of social services on the fabric of community life. It begins thus:- “ In 1973, E. F. Schumacher startled Western societies with a revolutionary economic analysis that proclaimed ‘small is beautiful.’ His book of that title concluded with these words: ‘The guidance we need . . . cannot be found in science or technology, the value of which utterly depends on the ends they serve; but it can still be found in the traditional wisdom of mankind.”
I found this lecture affirming. https://senscot.net/?viewid=8475
That’s all for this week. Good luck with your adventures
Best wishes,
Laurence
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